Apparatus for applying hang tabs to zippers

ABSTRACT

This apparatus includes a magazine for supporting a stack of hang tabs in flat condition and a reciprocating slide plate moves beneath the stack of hang tabs to successively remove the bottom hang tab from the stack and move the same to an adjacent folding station. A folding blade is supported for reciprocation in a vertical plane and moves down into engagement with the hang tab to fold the same medially and provide a pair of legs of substantially equal length into which the end of the zipper may be positioned by the operator. A staple head is supported beneath and in alignment with the folding station and a manual switch is provided for actuating the staple applying head to connect together the legs of the hang tab and to secure the end of the zipper therebetween.

United States Patent 11 1 Carter, 11

[ APPARATUS FOR APPLYING HANG TABS TO ZIPPERS [75] Inventor: Joseph V.Carter, II, Shelby, NC.

[73] Assignee: Lily Mills Company, Shelby, NC.

[22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1974 21 App]. No.: 531,237

2,972,747 2/1961 Kelem 29/211 D 3,257,715 6/1966 Luther 29/2ll D X3,520,046 7/l970 Erhardt, Jr. et al.

3,740,823 6/1973 Watkin 29/211 D X Aug. 12, 1975 Primary Examiner-VictorA. Dipalma Aztorney, Agent, or FirmParrott, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson[57] ABSTRACT This apparatus includes a magazine for supporting a stackof hang tabs in flat condition and a reciprocating slide plate movesbeneath the stack of hang tabs to successively remove the bottom hangtab from the stack and move the same to an adjacent folding station. Afolding blade is supported for reciprocation in a vertical plane andmoves down into engagement with the hang tab to fold the same mediallyand provide a pair of legs of substantially equal length into which theend of the zipper may be positioned by the operator. A staple head issupported beneath and in alignment with the folding station and a manualswitch is provided for actuating the staple applying head to connecttogether the legs of the hang tab and to secure the end of the zippertherebetween.

8 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 1 21975 SHEET PATENTED AUG 1 2I975 SHEET pets and these packages are rather expensive to produce. Thisexpensive type of package adds a substantial amount to the cost of thezippers and also increases the bulk of the zippers, thereby increasingthe shipping cost.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus foreconomically applying an inexpensive.

hang tab to the zipper so that the cost of the zipper may be reduced andthe hang tab provides an efficient means of displaying the zipper foreasy selection by a prospective purchaser.

In accordance with the present invention, the present apparatus forapplying hang tabs to zippers includes a magazine for supporting a stackof hang tabs in a flat condition. Means is provided for successivelyremoving the bottom hang tab from the stack and moving the same to anadjacent folding station where means is pro- 1 vided for folding thehang tab along a line extending through the medial portion of the tab toprovide a pair of legs of substantially equal length and for maintainingthe hang tab in this folded condition to receive the end of a zipperspaced between the legs of the folded hang tab. Means is also providedfor applying a staple through the legs of the hang tab and the end ofthe zipper positioned therebetween to connect together the legs of thehang tab and to secure the end of the zipper therebetween. The hang tabfeeding means,the folding means and the staple applying means are eachactuated by air cylinders which operate sequentially after an air aswitch is manually operated to apply the staple through the hang tab andthe zipper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. I is a somewhat schematic isometric view of the hang tab applyingapparatus, with parts broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the type of hang tab which is applied tothe zipper;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary isometric view looking at one end of the zipper,with the hang tab applied thereto;

FIGS. 4-7 are somewhat schematic isometric views of the apparatus of thepresent invention and illustrating the operational sequence of stepscarried out by the apparatus in applying the hang tabs to the zippers;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view through the central portion of theapparatus illustrated in FIG. I with the hang tab being folded inposition in front of the stapler head;

FIG. 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 9-9 in FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a somewhat schematic diagram illustrating the manner in whichthe various folding and stapling steps are carred outand the operationof the various air cylinders.

Generally, the apparatus of the present invention includes a magazine 10for supporting a stack of hang tabs. indicated at T in FIG. 2, in flatcondition. Each of the hang tabs T includes a medially extending creaseline. indicated by the dash-dot line 11 in FIG. 2, to aid in folding thehang tabs in a manner to be presently described. Means, broadlyindicated at B in FIG. 1, is provided for successively removing thebottom hang tab from the stack and moving the same to an adjacentfolding station. Means, broadly indicated at C in FIG. 1, is providedfor folding the hang tab along the line 11 extending through the medialportion of the tab to provide a pair of legs of substantially equallength and for maintaining the hang tab in this folded condition toreceive the end of a zipper 12 between the legs of the hang tab. Means,broadly indicated at D in FIG. 1, is provided for applying a staple 13through the legs of the folded hang tab and the end of the zipper l2positioned therebetween to connect together the legs of the hang tab andto secure the end of the zipper therebetween.

The apparatus includes a horizontal base plate (FIG. I) and a pair ofvertical support plates 21, 22 which are fixed at their lower ends toopposite sides of the horizontal base plate 20. A horizontal labelsupport plate 24 is supported between the frame members 21,

22 and on the upper ends of support plates 25, 26 (FIG. 9). A slideplate support plate 27 is fixed in spaced rela-- tionship beneath theplate 24, for purposes to be presently described. A transverse endsupport plate 30 extends between the side support plates 25, 26 (FIG. 8)

and beneath the forward end of the slide plate support 27. A pair ofside hang tab guide plates 31, 32 are supported on the upper plate 24and extend outwardly from the hang tab support magazine 10.

The means B for successively removing the bottom hang tab from the stackand moving thesame to an adjacent folding station includes a tab feedingair cylinder 35 including a reciprocating piston rod 36 which isconnected at its free end to an operating rod 37 fixed on the rear endof a slide plate 38. The slide plate 38 is supported for reciprocationin a slot in the upper plate 24 and, its forward end is provided with anotch which is adapted to engage the rear end of the lowermost hang tabT positioned in the magazine 10. The hang tabs 10 are fed downwardly bygravity and by means of a weight 40 (FIG. 8) supported on the upper endof the stack of hang tabs in the magazine 10. When the air cylinder 35is actuated, in a manner to be presently described, the piston rod 36moves the slide plate 38 forwardly, as schematically illustrated in FIG.6, to remove the bottom hang tab T from the stack and move the same toan adjacent folding station.

The means C for folding the hang tab along the line extending throughthe medial portion includes a folding station formed by a forwardextension of the upper plate 24 which is provided with a folding slot 41(FIG. 8) therein. A tab folding air cylinder 45 (FIG. I) is supported ona cross plate 46 which is supported between the vertical support plates21, 22 and the air cylinder 45 is provided with a piston rod 46. Areciprocating folding blade 47 is fixed on the lower end of the pistonrod 46 and one side edge is guided in a guide plate 48, fixed on thevertical support plate 22. When a hang tab T is removed from the stackin the magazine 10 and positioned at the folding station, across thefolding slot 41, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the folding blade 47 is moveddownwardly. as illustrated in dotted lines in FIG. 8, to move the tabthrough the slot 41 and form a medial fold across the hang tab. As thefolded tab is moved down by the blade 47, a pair of legs ofsubstantially equal length is provided and the folded hang tab ispositioned to receive the end of a zipper between the legs thereof, asshown in FIG. 8.

The means D for applying a staple through the legs of the folded hangtab and the end of the zipper positioned therebetween includes an aircylinder 50 which is fixed in position on the base plate 20 and isprovided with a piston rod 51 having a resilient bunter 52 on the outerend thereof. A stapler, including a staple head 53 and an anvil arm 54pivotally connected thereto, is supported beneath the folding station,as illustrated in FIG. 8. A support cover 55 extends over the staplehead operating plunger and is at times engaged by the resilient bunter52 to actuate the stapler and apply the staple 13 through the legs ofthe hang tab and the end of the zipper positioned therebetween toconnect together the legs of the hang tab and to secure the end of thezipper therebetween. as illustrated in FIG. 3.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, air under pressure is supplied by a motor 60and a compressor 61 to a main air line 62 connected to one side of afolding cylinder air valve 63. A branch air supply line 64 extends fromthe supply line 62 and is connected to one side of a tab feeding airvalve 65. Another branch supply line 68 is connected to the supply line62 and to one side of an air valve 66. An air supply line 102 isconnected to the other side of the air valve 66 and to one side of theair cylinder 50 which operates the stapler head 53. Air lines 70 and 71connect the valve 65 to opposite ends of the tab feeding air cylinder35. Air lines 72 and 73 connect the air valve 63 to opposite ends of thefolding air cylinder 45. Air switches 74 and 75 are connected toopposite ends of the air valve 63 by pilot or control air lines 76, 77.The air switches 74, 75 are connected to the air supply line 62 by pilotlines 80, 81. Air switches 83 and 84 are operated by the folding blade47 and switch 84 is connected to one side of the valve 65 by a pilotline 108. The air switches 83, 84 are also connected to the respectiveair supply line 62 by respective pilot lines 87, 88.

A pilot line 85 connects the air switch 83 to one side of a manuallyoperated air switch 67. A pilot line 99 is connected at one end to theother side of the switch 67 and is connected to a pilot line 100. Oneend of the pilot line 100 is connected to an impulse generator 98. Apilot line connects the other side of the impulse generator 98 to an airvalve 66. The other end of the pilot line 100 is connected to one sideof a not" element 103 which is connected to the air supply branch line64 by a pilot line 104. A pilot line 105 connects the other side of thenot" element 103 to one side of an impulse generator 107. A pilot line106 connects the other side of the impulse generator 107 to the valve65. A pilot line 108 connects the other side of the air switch 84 to theother side of the valve 65. An air supply line 109 connects the airsupply line 62 to the valve 63.

METHOD OF OPERATION Assuming that the folded hang tab T is positioned asshown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the operator then places the end of the zipper12 between the folded'legs of the hang tab, as illustrated in FIG. 3,and actuates the manual switch 67 so that air will flow into line 99from line 62, the air passing through lines 87, 85 and switch 83. Airwill also flow through line 100 impulse generator 98 and line 101 tooperate the valve 66. With the valve 66 in open position, air underpressure will enter the air supply line 68 and line 102 to operate theair cylinder to operate the stapler head 53 and apply the staple 13through the legs of the hang tab T and the end of the zipper positionedtherebetween to connect together the legs of the hang tab and to securethe end of the zipper therebetween, as shown in FIG. 3.

When the operator releases the switch 67, the not element permits air topass through lines 105, 106 and impulse generator 107 and shifts thevalve from left to right in FIG. 10. When the valve 65 is shifted, airfrom the line 64 will enter the line and the rear or outer end of thetab feeding cylinder 35 to move the piston rod 36 and the slide plate 38forwardly and remove the lowermost hang tab T and move it to the foldingstation, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 10.

When the slide plate 38 moves forwardly, the switch will be opened byforward movement of the piston 36 to permit air to enter pilot line 81,pass through switch 75, and through line 77 to shift the valve 63. Whenthe valve 63 is shifted, air can then enter through the line 109, valve63., and line 72 and into the upper end of the folding cylinder 45 sothat the folding blade 47 will be lowered to fold the hang tab andposition it in the stapler, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. When thefolding blade 47 reaches the lowermost position, the air switch 84 willbe opened to permit air to pass through the pilot lines 88 and 108 andshift the valve 65 back to the position shown in FIG. 10.

When the valve 65 is shifted, air can pass from the supply line 64 tothe line 71 and cause the air cylinder 35 to be retracted and the slideplate 38 will move back into position to feed the next hang tab to thefolding station. The air swtich 74 will be opened as the air cylinder 35is retracted so that the air can pass through the pilot lines and 76 toshift the valve 63 back to the position shown in FIG. 10. When the valve63 is shifted, air under pressure will then enter the lower end of thecylinder 45 and raise the folding blade 47 so that air switch is opened,in preparation for the next folding and stapling operation.

The apparatus of the present invention thus provides a simple mechanismfor folding a hang tab in preparation for applying a staple through thehang tab and the zipper. Controls are also provided for the seguentialfeeding of the hang tab to the folding station and the folding of thehang tab. The operator then 'merely places the end of the zipper in thefolded hang tab and actuates the air switch to actuate the staplingoperation. An inexpensive hang tab is thus applied to the zipper in aneconomical manner and the hang tabs may be conveniently displayed byhanging them on display pegs or pins so that the prospective customermay easily select the color and length of zipper required.

It is to be understood that hang tabs or labels of various sizes andshapes may be applied to the zippers with the apparatus of the presentinvention. Also, the hang tabs may be provided with any desired type ofprinted indicia to indicate brand names, sizes, price, etc.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation.

That which is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for appplying hang tabs to zippers comprising a. amagazine for supporting a stack of hang tabs in flat condition. y

b. means for successively removing the bottom hang tab from the stackand moving the same to an adjacent folding station,

c. means for folding the hang tab along a line extending through themedial portion of the tab to provide a pair of legs of substantiallyequal length and for maintaining the hang tab in this folded conditionto receive the end of a zipper between the legs thereof, and

d. means for applying a staple through the legs of the hang tab and theend of the zipper positioned therebetween to connect together the legsof the for reciprocation in a vertical plane. said folding blade beingengageable with the medial portion of the hang tab when positioned atthe folding station.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said staple applying means(d) comprises a staple head supported beneath and in alignment with saidfolding station. and including manually operable means for actuatingsaid staple applying means upon the zipper being placed in the foldedhang tab.

5. in an apparatus according to claim 2 including a feeding air cylinderoperatively connected to said reciprocating slide plate and beingoperable to impart reciprocation to said slide plate.

6. in an apparatus according to claim 3 including a folding air cylinderoperatively connected to said folding blade and being operable toreciprocate said folding blade.

7. In an apparatus according to claim 6 including air switches operablein response to movement of said slide plate by said feeding air cylinderfor controlling operation of said folding air cylinder and said foldingblade.

8. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said manually operableactuating means comprises a stapling air cylinder operable to engagesaid staple head, and wherein said manually operable means comprises amanually operated air switch for imparting movement to said stapling aircylinder.

1. An apparatus for appplying hang tabs to zippers comprising a. amagazine for supporting a stack of hang tabs in flat condition, b. meansfor successively removing the bottom hang tab from the stack and movingthe same to an adjacent folding station, c. means for folding the hangtab along a line extending through the medial portion of the tab toprovide a pair of legs of substantially equal length and for maintainingthe hang tab in this folded condition to receive the end of a zipperbetween the legs thereof, and d. means for applying a staple through thelegs of the hang tab and the end of the zipper posiTioned therebetweento connect together the legs of the hang tab and to secure the end ofthe zipper therebetween.
 2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 whereinsaid means (b) comprises a reciprocating slide plate movable in ahorizontal plane and beneath the stack of hang tabs.
 3. In an apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein said folding means (c) comprises a foldingblade supported for reciprocation in a vertical plane, said foldingblade being engageable with the medial portion of the hang tab whenpositioned at the folding station.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 1wherein said staple applying means (d) comprises a staple head supportedbeneath and in alignment with said folding station, and includingmanually operable means for actuating said staple applying means uponthe zipper being placed in the folded hang tab.
 5. In an apparatusaccording to claim 2 including a feeding air cylinder operativelyconnected to said reciprocating slide plate and being operable to impartreciprocation to said slide plate.
 6. In an apparatus according to claim3 including a folding air cylinder operatively connected to said foldingblade and being operable to reciprocate said folding blade.
 7. In anapparatus according to claim 6 including air switches operable inresponse to movement of said slide plate by said feeding air cylinderfor controlling operation of said folding air cylinder and said foldingblade.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said manuallyoperable actuating means comprises a stapling air cylinder operable toengage said staple head, and wherein said manually operable meanscomprises a manually operated air switch for imparting movement to saidstapling air cylinder.